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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Extraordinary Strain Hardening from Dislocation Loops in Defect-Free Al Nanocubes

The complex interaction of crystalline defects leads to strain hardening in bulk metals. Metals with high stacking fault energy (SFE), such as aluminum, tend to have low strain hardening rates due to an inability to form stacking faults and deformation twins. Here, we use in situ SEM mechanical compressions to find that colloidally synthesized defect-free 114 nm Al nanocubes combine a high linear strain hardening rate of 4.1 GPa with a high strength of 1.1 GPa. These nanocubes have a 3 nm self-passivating oxide layer that has a large influence on mechanical behavior and the accumulation of dislocation structures. Post-compression TEM imaging reveals stable prismatic dislocation loops and the absence of stacking faults. MD simulations relate the formation of dislocation loops and strain hardening to the surface oxide. These results indicate that slight modifications to surface and interfacial properties can induce enormous changes to mechanical properties in high SFE metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1997

Texture Modification of the Shuttle Landing Facility Runway at Kennedy Space Center

This paper describes the test procedures and the criteria used in selecting an effective runway-surface-texture modification at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to reduce Orbiter tire wear. The new runway surface may ultimately result in an increase of allowable crosswinds for launch and landing operations. The modification allows launch and landing operations in 20-knot crosswinds, if desired. This 5-knot increase over the previous 15-knot limit drastically increases landing safety and the ability to make on-time launches to support missions in which Space Station rendezvous are planned. The paper presents the results of an initial (1988) texture modification to reduce tire spin-up wear and then describes a series of tests that use an instrumented ground-test vehicle to compare tire friction and wear characteristics, at small scale, of proposed texture modifications placed into the SLF runway surface itself. Based on these tests, three candidate surfaces were chosen to be tested at full-scale by using a highly modified and instrumented transport aircraft capable of duplicating full Orbiter landing profiles. The full-scale Orbiter tire testing revealed that tire wear could be reduced approximately by half with either of two candidates. The texture-modification technique using a Humble Equipment Company Skidabrader(trademark) shotpeening machine proved to be highly effective, and the entire SLF runway surface was modified in September 1994. The extensive testing and evaluation effort that preceded the selection of this particular surface-texture-modification technique is described herein.

Daugherty, Robert H.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effects of Surface Hydrophobicity on Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Styrene with Formic Acid in a Biphasic Mixture

Transfer hydrogenation (TH) of unsaturated hydrocarbons with formic acid (FA) is an attractive processing pathway for the reduction of lignocellulosic pyrolysis oils. The low solubility of hydrophobic bio-oil species in water and FA in oil necessitates the use of a biphasic system as the reaction environment. Here, we report the effects of Pd/silica catalyst surface wettability on the TH reaction rate. Modification of the surface with short chain (C1–C4) alkyl silanes resulted in an increase in the reaction rate as compared to the unmodified catalyst. In contrast, modification of the surface with sulfonate (hydrophilic) and C18 alkyl silanes (hydrophobic) resulted in a decrease in the reaction rate as compared to the unmodified catalyst. Here, the results are discussed in terms of the catalyst interfacial activity and relative affinity of the reagents to the Pd active sites. An observed change in the apparent reaction order in styrene for a hydrophilic catalyst suggests that changing catalyst surface wettability from hydrophilic to hydrophobic resulted in a switch from a transport-limited to a kinetic-limited reaction regime.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Vapor-phase grafting of a model aminosilane compound to Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, and TiO 2 surfaces prepared by atomic layer deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a highly versatile surface functionalization technique that can conformally coat both planar and porous substrates. Here we use ALD metal oxide layers to establish a well-defined starting surface for vapor-phase surface organic modification. Vapor-phase (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) surface silanization of ALD Al 2 O 3 , ZnO and TiO 2 surfaces were studied at 100 °C, 150 °C and 200 °C. In situ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements, and ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed uniform monolayer silane formation through self-limiting APTES reaction. We observed a higher surface density of grafted APTES species following silanization at 100 °C compared to 200 °C, and we attribute this to the temperature-dependent reactivity of the surface hydroxyls and changes in the mode of APTES reaction. The FTIR and XPS measurements revealed that APTES reacts with Al 2 O 3 and ZnO exclusively through metal siloxy bond formation. However, APTES reacts with TiO 2 through both siloxy bond formation and ammonium salt formation via the amine group.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Chemical Modifications of Ag Catalyst Surfaces with Imidazolium Ionomers Modulate H 2 Evolution Rates during Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction

Bridging polymer design with catalyst surface science is a promising direction for tuning and optimizing electrochemical reactors that could impact long-term goals in energy and sustainability. Particularly, the interaction between inorganic catalyst surfaces and organic-based ionomers provides an avenue to both steer reaction selectivity and promote activity. In this work, we studied the role of imidazolium-based ionomers for electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to CO (CO 2 R) on Ag surfaces and found that they produce no effect on CO 2 R activity yet strongly promote the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). By examining the dependence of HER and CO 2 R rates on concentrations of CO 2 and HCO 3 –, we developed a kinetic model that attributes HER promotion to intrinsic promotion of HCO 3 – reduction by imidazolium ionomers. We also show that varying the ionomer structure by changing substituents on the imidazolium ring modulates the HER promotion. This ionomer-structure dependence was analyzed via Taft steric parameters and density functional theory calculations, which suggest that steric bulk from functionalities on the imidazolium ring reduces access of the ionomer to both HCO 3 – and the Ag surface, thus limiting the promotional effect. Our results help develop design rules for ionomer–catalyst interactions in CO 2 R and motivate further work into precisely uncovering the interplay between primary and secondary coordination in determining electrocatalytic behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1975

Theoretical effect of modifications to the upper surface of two NACA airfoils using smooth polynomial additional thickness distributions which emphasize leading edge profile and which vary quadratically at the trailing edge

An investigation was conducted on a CDC 7600 digital computer to determine the effects of additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of the NACA 64-206 and 64 sub 1 - 212 airfoils. The additional thickness distribution had the form of a continuous mathematical function which disappears at both the leading edge and the trailing edge. The function behaves as a polynomial of order epsilon sub 1 at the leading edge, and a polynomial of order epsilon sub 2 at the trailing edge. Epsilon sub 2 is a constant and epsilon sub 1 is varied over a range of practical interest. The magnitude of the additional thickness, y, is a second input parameter, and the effect of varying epsilon sub 1 and y on the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil was investigated. Results were obtained at a Mach number of 0.2 with an angle-of-attack of 6 degrees on the basic airfoils, and all calculations employ the full potential flow equations for two dimensional flow. The relaxation method of Jameson was employed for solution of the potential flow equations.

Merz, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Theoretical effect of modifications to the upper surface of two NACA airfoils using smooth polynomial additional thickness distributions which emphasize leading edge profile and which vary linearly at the trailing edge

An investigation was conducted on a CDC 7600 digital computer to determine the effects of additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of airfoils. The additional thickness distribution had the form of a continuous mathematical function which disappears at both the leading edge and the trailing edge. Results were obtained at a Mach number of 0.2 with an angle of attack of 6 deg. All calculations employed the full potential flow equations for two dimensional flow. The relaxation method of Jameson was used for solution of the potential flow equations. It is shown that increasing the thickness and variations in shape increases the lift and the adverse pitching moment coefficients.

Hague, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS2001

The Modification of Mars Fluvial Surfaces

The identification of fluvial deposits on Mars is impaired by modifying geological processes. An analysis of surface patterns of superimposed dunes and channels in paleoflood environments in Washington State and Australia can yield information on buried surfaces. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Bourke, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Surface history of Mercury - Implications for terrestrial planets

A plausible surface history of Mercury is presented which is suggested by Mariner 10 television pictures. Five periods are postulated which are delineated by successive variations in the modification of the surface by external and internal processes: accretion and differentiation, terminal heavy bombardment, formation of the Caloris basin, flooding of that basin and other areas, and light cratering accumulated on the smooth plains. Each period is described in detail; the overall history is compared with the surface histories of Venus, Mars, and the moon; and the implications of this history for earth are discussed. It is tentatively concluded that: Mercury is a differentiated planet most likely composed of a large iron core enclosed by a relatively thin silicate layer; heavy surface bombardment occurred about four billion years ago, which probably affected all the inner planets, and was followed by a period of volcanic activity; no surface modifications caused by tectonic, volcanic, or atmospheric processes took place after the volcanic period.

Murray, B. C.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Friction reduction for engine components

The present invention relates to techniques for lowering friction between moving surfaces of, for example, an internal combustion engine. Friction reduction is achieved by adding texture modifications to surfaces that come in contact with each other. Texture modifications that reduce friction in accordance with the present invention include dimples of varying geometries and depths ion the surfaces of components. The present invention also relates to the fabrication technique for applying the texture to the surfaces. In another embodiment, the patterned soft mask is applied onto a large surface (flat or curved including cylindrical rollers surfaces) to be followed by electrochemical etching to imprint the textures onto the component And, in another embodiment, a diamond-like-carbon (DLC) film may be applied to the turbine component to also reduce friction.

Hsu, Stephen M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Surface and bulk modified high capacity layered oxide cathodes with low irreversible capacity loss

The present invention includes compositions, surface and bulk modifications, and methods of making of (1-x)Li[Li.sub.1/3Mn.sub.2/3]O.sub.2.xLi[Mn.sub.0.5-yNi.sub.0.5-yCo.sub.2- y]O.sub.2 cathode materials having an O3 crystal structure with a x value between 0 and 1 and y value between 0 and 0.5, reducing the irreversible capacity loss in the first cycle by surface modification with oxides and bulk modification with cationic and anionic substitutions, and increasing the reversible capacity to close to the theoretical value of insertion/extraction of one lithium per transition metal ion (250-300 mAh/g).

Manthiram, Arumugam↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Key Role of Grain Boundary Dynamics in Revolutionizing the Potential of Solid Electrolytes

Solid electrolytes (SEs) have the potential to enhance the safety and performance of Li-metal batteries. However, the existence of grain boundaries in polycrystalline SEs presents a significant challenge for both ionic and electronic migration, promoting the propagation of detrimental lithium dendrites. This study compares the roles of grain boundaries in electrical properties of three distinct SEs including garnet-type Li 6.5 La 3 Zr 1.5 Ta 0.5 O 12 (LLZO), argyrodite-type Li 6 PS 5 Cl (LPSC), and NASICON-type Li 1+x+y Al x (Ti,Ge) 2-x Si y P 3-y O 12 (LATP). Results demonstrate that the electronic and ionic conductivities of solid-state electrolytes are affected differently by grain boundaries, depending on the specific type of electrolyte. For instance, LLZO and LATP experience dielectric breakdown at 3.7 and 5.3 V, respectively, while LPSC does not exhibit such behavior. Here, a new chemical modification is proposed that simultaneously alters the composition of both the surface and grain boundaries of SEs, ultimately reducing electronic conductivity for the LLZO SEs. Consequently, the proposed LLZO exhibits unprecedented dendrite-free cycling stability, achieving a remarkable 12 000-h lifetime at room temperature, surpassing conventional strategies such as surface coatings in dendrite mitigation. This study highlights the significance of modifying grain boundaries to design safe and durable Li-metal batteries. It provides new insights for developing SEs that are highly resistant to dendrite formation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗